GENERAL ELECTION 2020: EVERYTHING YOU NEED

THE ARTS ARE IRELAND’S NATIONAL RESOURCE.
THE ARTS ARE A NECESSITY. NOT A LUXURY.
THE ARTS ARE AN ASSET. NOT AN OVERHEAD.

NCFA calls on all candidates at the upcoming General Election to commit to at least doubling investment in Culture and the Arts by 2025, over the life of the next government.

This includes a commitment to double investment in the Arts Council and Culture Ireland over the same period, who are the agencies who directly support artists and their work.

• 23,000 people are employed in the Arts and Culture in Ireland (Census 2016)

• 72% of Artists working in Ireland earn less than the National Minimum Wage (NCFA Survey 2020)

• 72% of Artists and Arts Workers in Ireland do not have a pension and 48% do not have health insurance (NCFA Survey 2020)

• Government investment in the Arts and Culture in Ireland is lower than any other country in Europe, representing just 0.11% of GDP compared to a European average of 0.6% (Council of Europe)

• More people attend paid arts events in Ireland every year than attend GAA Championship matches  (Theatre Forum Benchmarking)

• The Arts make money for Ireland. For every €1 invested in the Arts and Culture, almost €2 is returned in direct taxation to Government (based on €193m investment in 2020, estimate ref Indecon)

• Cultural Tourism is worth over €5.1 billion to the economy, including both domestic and overseas tourism (Failte Ireland)

• Four of the top six most happiness-inducing activities are arts-related (the other two are sex and exercise) (London School of Economics)

You can find out what your constituency is here: https://www.whoismytd.com/

You can find out who your local candidates are here: https://www.thejournal.ie/election-2020/

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